Politics - Las Vegas Sun News

Sen. Harry Reid whispers to Sen. Dean Heller during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on Monday, May 30, 2011.

IRS scandal reopens rift over Obamacare; Nevada lawmakers entangled: May 19, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; Congress was supposed to be done arguing over repeals of the Affordable Care Act, but the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups has reopened a partisan rift.

The Nevada State Legislature building is shown in Carson City, Nev., Thursday, March 31, 2005.

Few big tax bills afoot, but plenty of little ones at Nevada Legislature: May 19, 2013; By Anjeanette Damon; Democrats may have fallen short of crafting a comprehensive tax reform plan to address Nevada’s wobbly revenue structure, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a bevy bills to raise taxes floating around the Legislature this year.

A view of the Nevada State Legislature building in Carson City Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.

Legislature might get messy near the end: May 19, 2013; By Anjeanette Damon; The Nevada Legislature has reached the point in every session when lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters ask: Is it going to end on time? And the answer always is: Maybe.

Miller under attack as he pursues campaign finance reform: May 19, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; An out-of-state conservative group wants you to call Democratic Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller and tell him that you’re “sick of his costly hypocrisy.” But that group doesn't have to disclose its campaign contributions.

Panel finalizes plan to send $37.5 million more to Southern Nevada colleges: May 18, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; The four Northern Nevada colleges and universities in the Nevada System of Higher Education would receive less money during the next two years, according to the new higher education funding formula plan legislators approved Saturday.

Nevada Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas, left, talks with Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, on the Senate floor at the Legislative Building in Carson City, Nev., on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

Bills live and die on deadline day in Carson City: May 18, 2013; By Anjeanette Damon; The legislative grim reaper struck again Friday as the Nevada Legislature hit yet another milestone on the 120-day march to its finish.

Presidential candidate John Edwards toasts Star Hotel bartender Natalie Carter with a house specialty, a Picon Punch, while making a campaign stop in Elko Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.

Last-minute amendment could create the state drink: May 18, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; Lawmakers killed a bill earlier this year that would’ve made the Blue Weimaraner the state dog, but Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, now has a measure to make the Basque alcoholic beverage Picon Punch the official state drink.

Reid, Sandoval among heavy hitters going to bat for compromise NV Energy bill: May 17, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; NV Energy’s plan to shut down coal plants in Nevada moved forward today with strong support from some of Nevada’s most influential politicians and business interests.

Amendment adds expiration date for proposed sales tax hike: May 17, 2013; By Cy Ryan; A bill permitting the Clark County Commission to increase the sales tax to support the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has been approved by the Senate Revenue and Economic Committee.

Former Sen. John Ensign hit with fine over contributions: May 17, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; The Federal Election Commission announced Friday a $32,000 fine against former U.S. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and his former campaign committee treasurer, Lisa Lisker, for failing to disclose “excessive in-kind contributions” from Ensign’s parents.

Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore inspects the product and learns about the different uses for and varieties of marijuana during a trip to a dispensary in Arizona on Friday, March 22, 2013.

Pot dispensaries could mean green for state coffers, advocates argue: May 17, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; Advocates for medical marijuana argued Nevada could bring in $10 million to $30 million a year for state coffers if lawmakers approve a bill to create a dispensary system.

Sens. Dean Heller, left, and Harry Reid attend a Memorial Day ceremony in Boulder City on May 30, 2011.

Dean Heller disapproves of federal judge nominee because of contributions to Harry Reid: May 16, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; The Senate Judiciary committee voted down party lines to endorse the nomination of Jennifer Dorsey, President Barack Obama’s pick to fill one of the two remaining seats on the federal bench in Nevada. But when her nomination comes up for a confirmation vote in the Senate, Dorsey won’t have the full support of Nevada’s delegation, also divided down party lines.

In this April 24, 2004, file photo, former Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa speaks in support of a "legislative scorecard" presented by the Nevada Conservation League at a news conference in Reno.

Former AG launches coalition to thwart NV Energy's 10-year plan: May 15, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; Former Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is leading a coalition to defeat a major piece of energy legislation pushed by NV Energy that would create a plan to divest from coal and launch a massive project to build renewable energy plants instead.

Legislative panel seeks to redirect funding to Southern Nevada colleges: May 15, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; Legislators today recommended shifting money from northern colleges to southern colleges almost immediately, rejecting Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposal to phase in the cuts to rural college budgets.

Why will consumers outside insurance exchange pay fees?: May 15, 2013; By Cy Ryan; Due to confusion about fees charged in the federal Affordable Care Act, the Silver State Insurance Exchange has issued a clarifying statement on the issue.

Monday, May 20

R&R Partners CEO Billy Vassiliadis on the big energy bill, taxes and online poker. Watch »

Monday, May 6

Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey says it's unlikely his caucus would support any tax reform that would actually raise revenue, but spoke favorably of Speaker Kirkpatrick's forthcoming live entertainment tax bill. Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick is calling it quits after two decades in office. Watch »